Surname Meiershofer - Meaning and Origin
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Meiershofer: What does the surname Meiershofer mean?
The last name Meiershofer is of German origin and is derived from the Old High German word Meiger (meaning mayor or bailiff). It was typically found in the southern region of German-speaking Europe and is a variant of the original last name Meyer, which is also derived from this Old High German word.
The name Meiershofer is considered a hereditary name, which is a name passed down from one generation to the next. It first appeared in Germany in the 13th century and was used to distinguish between different people in various towns and cities where the same or similar name was found. For instance, if two people in the same town had the last name Meyer, they could be differentiated by the addition of the suffix ‘shofer’ to one of the names.
In modern times, the name Meiershofer has spread far beyond its original German home and can now be found across the world. While the original meaning has been lost, the name lives on as an interesting reminder of its original roots. Those with the last name tend to have strong family ties. Many still live in the same town they were born in, and some even still recognize their ancestral ties to the Old High German word from which it came.
Order DNA origin analysisMeiershofer: Where does the name Meiershofer come from?
The last name Meiershofer is an uncommon surname most commonly found among German-speaking people living in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, particularly in the regions of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. It likely derived from the words Meier, meaning landowner, and schofer, meaning worker.
Today, Meiershofer remains a relatively rare surname throughout Europe, with a low population density in most countries. According to Forebears, in 2019 the surname ranked 6,384th in Germany, 6,455th in Austria, and 8,672nd in Switzerland. It also ranked in the bottom 4% of surnames in the United States.
In its homeland of Germany, the surname is concentrated in the southwest region of the country, with the highest numbers in Bavaria, mainly in the cities and districts of Munich (München), Lower Bavaria (Niederbayern), Swabia (Schwaben), and Stuttgart. There are also clusters around Stuttgart, Regensburg, and in the North Rhine-Westphalia area.
Meiershofer is also a popular last name in Texas, especially in the Houston metropolitan area. This likely traces back to the mid-1800s when many German immigrants, including the Meiershofer family, settled there. In the United States, it can also be found in states with strong German-American influences, such as Ohio, Illinois, and California.
Overall, the Meiershofer surname is typically most common in German-speaking countries and states, and particularly in the areas of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse in Germany, and Houston in the United States.
Variations of the surname Meiershofer
Variants, Spellings and Surnames of the same origin for the surname Meiershofer are Maierhofer, Myershofer, Miershofer, Meiershoffer, Meyrshofer, Meyrhof, Meurlshof, Maerschofer, Meyershofer, Mairschoffer, Mearschofer, Meerschofer, Mairshoff, Maerhoff, Maerhofer, Maerhöfer, Meyershoffer, Mayrshofer, Mayerhoffer, Myershoffer, Myerhofer, Meurshofer, Meirhofer, and Meyrshöfer.
The surname Meiershofer can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and across Europe as a whole. It has its roots in Bavaria, where it would have first been recorded in the Middle Ages and is believed to be of Germanic origin, derived from the Old Germanic word ‘maere’, which means ‘mayor’. The surname Meiershofer would thus have been held by an official of some kind in the middle ages, responsible for organising or regulating matters within the local community.
The surname Meiershofer also has some unique variants and spellings, which are quite distinct from its original form. These variants include Maierhofer, Myershofer, Miershofer, Meiershoffer, Meyrshofer, Meyrhof, Meurlshof, Maerschofer, Meyershofer, Mairschoffer, Mearschofer, Meerschofer, Mairshoff, Maerhoff, Maerhofer, Maerhöfer, Meyershoffer, Mayrshofer, Mayerhoffer, Myershoffer, Myerhofer, Meurshofer, Meirhofer, and Meyrshöfer.
In conclusion, the surname Meiershofer is incredibly diverse in its variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. It provides a clue to the person's ancestry and can reveal a great deal about their family’s past and origins. All the same, it is important to remember that not all of these variants are necessarily of the same origin, as some may have developed in different places and at different times.
Famous people with the name Meiershofer
- Caro Meiershofer: German musician and singer/songwriter.
- Urs Meiershofer: Swiss politican and member of the National Council.
- Stefan Meiershofer: Austrian football (soccer) player.
- Peter Meiershofer: German football (soccer) coach.
- Johannes Meiershofer: Austrian snowboarder and World Cup competitor.
- Felix Meiershofer: German triple jumper and member of the German national track and field team.
- Christian Meiershofer: Austrian photographer, known for as an aesthetic nature landscape photographer.
- Karl Meiershofer: German sculptor and artist, known for his work with granite and marble.
- Ann Meiershofer: American magazine editor and LA-based influencer.
- Jay Meiershofer: American professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Washington.